Save Article

The Moral Costs of Inaction

The violations of the church’s rights in Germany drew harsh protests from Rome, the persecution of Jews was less of a concern.

By

Gerald Steinacher

Dec. 24, 2015 2:04 p.m. ET

Pius XII remains the most controversial pope in recent history. Many historians—among them John Cornwell (“Hitler’s Pope”) and Susan Zuccotti (“Under His Very Windows”)—are still trying to reconcile the pope’s silence during Hitler’s genocide of millions with his role as the head of the Roman Catholic Church. The ongoing push for his canonization has made this debate ever more heated.

In “Church of Spies,” Mark Riebling joins the fray in defense of the pope. Drawing on previous research and a wealth of U.S. intelligence sources,...